Pilot Debrief

HARTLINE J BON HARTLINE KITFOX III near Marathon, TX — 2018-05-02

Final reportCEN18LA157
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Date
2018-05-02
Location
Marathon, TX, USA
Airport
6TX9
Aircraft
HARTLINE J BON HARTLINE KITFOX III
Registration
N73BH
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Minor
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Takeoff roll

Probable cause

The failure of the flaperon hinge attachment point during takeoff, which resulted in a loss of airplane control. Contributing to the accident was the lack of reinforcement of the hinge attachment point in accordance with the manufacturer’s service bulletin.

NTSB narrative

The pilot and the passenger were departing on a local personal flight in the experimental amateur-built airplane. The pilot indicated that, during the takeoff climb, about 15 ft above the ground, the airplane violently rolled to the right. He applied full aileron and rudder opposite the direction of the roll, but the airplane continued to roll to the right, struck the ground with the right wing, and then impacted a tree. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that three of the four hinges connecting the right flaperon hanger rib were loose. The wooden material of the flaperon was found dry rotted where the hinges connected. The airplane had been flown about 3 hours in the 11 months before the accident. The airplane kit manufacturer had issued a service bulletin in 1991 that identified flaperon hanger rib failures on the model of the accident airplane. The service bulletin recommended the addition of an aluminum reinforcement on each flaperon hanger rib end. The accident airplane did not have the reinforcement installed and thus did not have the benefit of additional reinforcement in the attachment point area of the hinges.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Mechanical failure
First missed decision gate
Reinforcement not installed on flaperon hangar rib as recommended by service bulletin.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 5 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents5

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